Learning Tools for the New Millennium

Technology has brought about a vast sea of new possibilities, and the educational world has not been left out of the loop in this new ear. 30 years ago, students took part in reading exercises that asked the now simple question, “Will you learn from screens in the future?” Little did these kids know the true impact that digital learning would have on the world around them when they became adults. Does this mean that traditional learning tools have become a thing of the past? Most certainly it has not. Technology has brought the educational world into the future by tailoring learning for both students, as well as teachers.

Most any adult can recall the days of having to tote around school books that had been passed down over the years from previous students, only to be replaced after reaching the point of deterioration. Those days are now seemingly reaching their very end, as stated by Forbes in their article which goes into depth about an array of positive changes that technological advances are making for both students and teachers alike.

Teachers have been celebrating these modern advances as well, for they have become better equipped with Classroom Management Textbook options that coincide with organizational software program features. They now can keep better track of each individual student’s progress, no matter their gifts or limitations. Even with the recent technological advantages, it is a safe assumption to state that e-books will not replace the role of teacher entirely for quite some time to come.

Although, it has also been stated by Forbes that e-books have not yet taken over entirely. One reason they state is that the current e-book business model has not totally transitioned acceptably. When schools invest in physical books, they own them for good, whereas those in digital form may have to be licensed to each student individually every year. This means for added expenses annually and some schools are waiting for changes in this somewhat problematic business model before they make the switch. Whether or when the business side of things will change soon is unclear. Either way, educators anticipate the transition anxiously. Being able to fine-tune organizational requirements for both themselves and their students has already been shown to have great effectiveness.

Not everyone is overly-excited for this coming change though, for it is reported that many students would prefer to read from actual paper books. This may be due to the time outside of studies being dedicated to constantly staring at screens and communicating online with others. By the time comes that reading is being expected, it just may be overload for the children. That speaks more on the overuse of phones, computers, and social media though than on where technology is taking the world of learning. Hopefully in time, the youth of today will learn to achieve a better balance and understanding by the time the full transition comes about.